clark



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

O. E. CLARK.

SAFE.

(No Model.)

$56 5? r w-W BY 4 It fig A77'ORNEX.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

U. E. CLARK. SAFE.

Patented Mar. 27, 1894.

IIIHIIIIIWEII N WITNESSES: 30 3 7 INVENTOH NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. CLARK, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

SAFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,261, dated March 27, 1894.

Application filed November 9,1898. Serial No. 4:90AM. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. CLARK, of Dayton, county of Montgomery, State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Burglar-Proof Safes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in burglar proof safes with specific reference to the mechanism for securing the door against forcible entry of any kind.

The object of the invention is to provide reliable means for preventin g' robbery so often committed by those adopt in the practice of safe blowing. Usually an entrance is effected by drawing out or knockingv in the knob shaft of the combination lock, or the shaft of the bolt-throwing lever, and inserting attached to said shaft, on the outside of the safe-door; the improvements further consist in constructing the combination locks in a manner that will prevent their being demolished by a blow from a hammer, and in which the insertion of dynamite or other combustibles can not be accomplished.

Several features of the safe and the locks shown in the drawings are old, therefore it will be my endeavor to not confuse, but to point out in a specific manner the features constituting rnyinvention. In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, Figure 1, is a view in perspective of a safe, the securing mechanism being constructed in accordance with .my invention; Fig. 2, a similar view, with the door swung open; Fig. 3, a detached, detail horizontal view of a portion of one of the transverse safe door bolts, showing arecess therein: the bolt-locking shaft shown insection; Fig. 4, a detached, detail view, in perspective, of the bolt-locking shaft, and the horizontal safe-door bolt which said shaft is adapted to secure; Fig. 5, a detached, detail cross section of the bolt-locking shaft, and the horizontal safe-door bolt which said shaft is adapted to secure; Fig. 6, a detached, detail view of the combination lock in longitudinal section; Fig. 7, a detached, detail view of the combination lock looking from the rear; Fig. 8, a detached, detail viewof the combination lock, in longitudinal section, showing the knob shaft knocked in, flush with the outer surface of the safe door; Fig. 9, a view, showing in section, a portion of the safe door, and the lever for throwing one set of the door bolts; Fig. 10, horizontal views of a portion of the bolt having the recess: the recesses shown therein are modifications of that shown in Figs. 3 and i; Fig. 11, a detached, detail longitudinal elevation of the shaft and lever adapted to secure the bolt shown in Fig. 10, and which bolt appears in this view (Fig. 11) in section. This is a modification of the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4; Fig. 12, a vertical section through the bolt-locking shaft shown in Fig. 11; one of the flanges on said shaft appearing in out-line.

The safe A, as is customary is constructed in the most substantial manner and outof the hardest available metal.

B is the bolt-supporting frame, projecting from the inside of the door B, in which are journaled, horizontally, bolts 1, 2, Sand 4, each and all of which are rigidly attached to the vertical bar 5 having a stem 6 projecting at a right angle to enter the lock 7, and a connection with a link 8 attached to the shaft 9, to one end of which shaft is attached the hand lever 10 by means of which the horizontal bars are shifted.

The parts thus far described, together with the bell-crank levers 11 and 12 which have a pivotal connection with the bolts 1 and dand which operate vertical bolts 13 and 14, are features commonly found in safes of this character, with the exception of the recess (a) in the bolt 2, which will be again referred to.

15 and 16 are an auxiliary set of sliding bolts mounted in bearings on the opposite side of the door, and which are rigidly attached to a vertical bar 17 having a stem 18, the construction and functions of which, are similar to those of bar 5 with stem 6, hereinbefore described.

19 represents a lever having a connection with the bar 17 and with the rotating shaft 20 to which a hand lever 21 is secured, on the outside of the safe door; this shaft is provided with flanges 22 and 23 between which there is space for the bolt 2, and which prevent the shaft from being shifted in either direction, see Fig. 4. The shaft 20 may be of segmental form in cross section, and the bolt 2 provided with a corresponding recess at the point, where they engage or cross each other, as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4c; or said shaft 20 may be provided with lugs 24 raised from its body, and the flanges 22 and 23 dispensed with,the lugs 24 serving the same function, and the bolt 2 may be provided with recesses adapted to receive said lugs, as appears in Figs. 10 and 11. The object of constructing the bolt 2 with the recess and the shaft 20 with a corresponding form to fit said recess, is to afford additional means for securing the bolts 1, 2, 3, and 4, to those furnished by the lock mechanism that affects said bolts; and while shaft 20 performs this function, it also shifts the auxiliary set of bolts. The auxiliary set of bolts 15 and 16, and the shaft 20, and adjunctive devices operating in connection therewith are to be brought into requisition in cases of emergency, as will be explained hereinafter. It will be noted that each set of bolts has its own lock; these locks are the regularpermutation class and are not in their entirety my invention.

I have shown in Fig. 2 the safe-door with the inner casing or door removed for the purpose of exhibiting the relative locations of the bolts and locks.

In Figs. 6 and S, 2) indicates the inner casing of the door, between which and the front casing, the permutation lock is secured by bolts 24, or in any suitable manner. 25 is the casing that incloses the permutation wheels 0, and which is made unusually thick in the present instance. 26 is the knob shaft upon which the permutation wheels are mounted, and which has a substantial flange 27 integral therewith, preferably. This flange is provided with an annular recess in the casing 25; the normal position of the shaft 26 is as appears in Fig. 6, where it will be noted it projects on the outside of the door to enable the knob 28 to be screwed on to it, and made fast against rotary movement, by the pin 29. 30 is the rear plate in which the inner end of the shaft 26 has bearing. 31 is a stout rubber cushion in the rear of this plate and between it and the inner casing of the door. 32 is a spiral spring surrounding said cushion, and against which the rear end of the lock casing 25 may press; the object of this cushion and spring is to afford a stout but elastic surface against which the casing and knob shaft may abut, when said shaft is driven in; the spring may be substituted by a second rubber cushion or any equivalent material. The object and purpose of projecting the knob shaft only sufficiently for an engagement with the knob, is to increase the difficulty of breaking, or make it impossible to break the end of said shaft off; and it may be driven in without injury to the combination lock; the rubber cushions preventing said shaft from going only a certain distance in. The bolt-throwing shafts may also be provided with similar rubber cushions. If an attempt should be made to drive the shaft in, it will yield, only, until the outer extremity thereof comes on a line coincident with the outer casing A, of the door, thus always filling the aperture and making the introduction of dynamite impossible; at that stage, a further pressure on said shaft will bring the rear plate 30 and the casing 25 in pressing contact with the rubber cushion and spring; the result is well understood,-the bounding or opposing nature of these parts will admit of but slight compression, and the effect will be to return the shaft to its former position without any injury to the lock itself.

As before stated some of the features of the permutation lock are well known, to wit, the permutation wheels, the knob shaft, dog and tumbler. These parts in the present instance are assembled in such a manner that should an attempt be made to drive the knob shaft in, the mechanism connected with the permutation wheels, to wit, the dog 33, will not be broken; this dog is movably mounted on a rod 34, independently of the tumbler 35, and may be carried rearwardly by the permutation wheels should the knob shaft be driven in, without interfering with the tumbler, Fig. 7 illustrates the mounting of these parts; in this view the tumbler and dog are shown in an unlocked position when the stems 6 or 18 on the vertical bars 5 or 17, may enter the opening 36, and the horizontal door bolts shifted to unlock the safe. As the auxiliary set of bolts and the lock securing them; the recess bolt 2, and the shaft looking it, are only intended to be operated when danger of robbery is threatened, the combination of this lock is not known by the party having immediate charge of the safe, therefore cannot be opened by him when once set-for example-- in case robbers shouk hold up a train for the purpose of robbery, while the miscreants were engaged in breaking open the express car door, the express messenger, in addition to throwing the regular bolts and turning the combination, likewise throws the auxiliary set of bolts and turns their combination, which he does not know, therefore cannot im part a knowledge of the combination to the robber. It will be understood, the auxiliary bolts'are thrown by turning the lever21; this also has the effect of securing the regular bolts by engaging with belt 2; the lock of the auxiliary set is the same as that of the regular set of bolts, but as before stated, the combination thereof is not known to the custodian of the safe.

Having described my invention, I desire to claim- 1. Ina burglar-proof safe, the combination with the horizontal bolts 1, 2, 3, and 4:, the second named of which is provided with a recess in its body; of the shaft 20 with a portion adapted to enter said recess, and flanges 22 and 23; the auxiliary bolts 15 and 16 rigidly attached to the vertical bar 17, said vertical bar provided with a stem 18 projecting at a right angle; the lever 19 attached to the bar 17, and means for securing said levers and bar in a stationary position, as herein described.

2. The combination with the transverse door bolt-2 with the recess (a); of the shaft 20 having flanges 22 and 23, the portion of said shaft between said flanges being segmental in cross section; the horizontal sliding bolts 15 and 16, and the vertical bar 17; the lever 19 attached to said bar and to said shaft; and

lock mechanism by means of which said bolts 25 may be secured in a fixed position.

3. The combination with the bolts 15 and 16; of the permutation lock having the easing 25, substantially as shown, and the knob shaft; the rubber cushion 31 in the rear of 36 CHAS. E. CLARK.

With esses:

J. D. CLARK, R. J. M'OCARTY. 

